Two dynamic capitals—Seoul and Taipei—lead Asia in practical, citizen-centered approaches to recycling, upcycling, and public space reuse. This 7-day itinerary mixes policy observation with hands-on visits to education centers, adaptive-reuse landmarks, markets, and parks built on former landfills. Along the way, you’ll eat spectacularly well and gather adaptable ideas you can pitch back home.

Seoul’s story moves fast: postwar rebuilding, design-forward renewals like Seoullo 7017, and robust public campaigns for sorting waste. You’ll see how Korea’s pay-as-you-throw approach and creative reuse sites inform cleaner streets. Taipei adds a signature twist—no curbside bins, Beethoven-playing garbage trucks, and deeply engaged neighborhood sorting—plus night markets and community culture.

Practical notes: pick up a T-money card in Seoul and an EasyCard in Taipei for effortless transit. Expect excellent tap water, cashless-friendly payments, and late-night dining. Typical meals range from 6–15 USD in Seoul and 2–8 USD in Taipei; intercity flights are short and affordable. Always verify facility tour availability in advance, as some resource recovery sites require reservations and ID.

Seoul

Bold architecture, efficient subways, and a relentless focus on design define Seoul. You’ll move from upcycling labs in Seongsu to a world-class adaptive reuse at the Oil Tank Culture Park, and finish days with sizzling barbecue or market bites.

• Top sights and learning: Seoul Upcycling Plaza (SUP), Haneul Park (former landfill reborn), Oil Tank Culture Park, Seoullo 7017, Gwangjang Market, palaces and craft alleys in Jongno.
• Where to stay: Base yourself in Jongno for history, Mapo/Hongdae for youth culture, or Seongsu for design studios. Search stays on VRBO Seoul or compare hotels on Hotels.com Seoul.
• Getting in: Book international flights via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From Incheon Airport, the AREX train to central Seoul takes ~45–60 minutes (about 9,500 KRW).

Day 1: Arrival, Jongno Stroll, and Dakhanmari

Morning: In transit. If you arrive earlier than expected, stash luggage at your hotel and grab a light bite—try a seasonal fruit sando or onigiri at a convenience store to tide you over.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs in Jongno. Walk Ikseon-dong Hanok Village’s small alleys—renovated hanok houses now home to indie boutiques, pottery, and tea rooms. Stop at a traditional teahouse for yuzu tea or omija punch and a primer on Korea’s tea heritage.

Evening: Dinner at Jinokhwa Halmae Wonjo Dakhanmari in Dongdaemun: a whole chicken hotpot simmered with scallions and garlic, customized with mustard and chili—perfect after a flight (expect ~18,000–25,000 KRW per person). If you have energy, wander the Dongdaemun Design Plaza’s LED-lit curves after dark.

Day 2: Upcycling Deep-Dive and Seongsu Design

Morning: Coffee and pastry at Cafe Onion Seongsu—housed in a raw concrete-bakery hybrid known for pandoro and seasonal tarts. Head to Seoul Upcycling Plaza (SUP) for exhibitions, workshops, and shops dedicated to circular design; look for demos on textile and plastic reuse. Admission is typically free or low-cost.

Afternoon: Explore Seongsu-dong, the “Brooklyn of Seoul.” Pop into small studios reworking leather offcuts into wallets and chairs. Lunch at a local favorite like Baekmidang for noodles and seasonal kimchi, or try a comforting kimchi-jjigae set menu (8,000–12,000 KRW).

Evening: Gwangjang Market tasting tour: start with a hot, crispy bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) from a griddle stall, then a plate of yukhoe (Korean-style beef tartare with pear) in Yukhoe Alley, and finish with mayak gimbap and soondae. Budget 15,000–25,000 KRW per person for a progressive feast.

Day 3: From Landfill-to-Park to Oil Tank Culture Park

Morning: Espresso and a glazed “knot” pastry at Fritz Coffee Company (Mapo). Head to Haneul Park atop the World Cup Park complex—once a landfill, now silver grass fields and skyline views. Note the interpretive signage on restoration and methane capture.

Afternoon: Lunch in Mapo at Jinmi Sikdang for ganjang gejang (soy-marinated crab) with rice and banchan (plan ~25,000–40,000 KRW). Continue to Oil Tank Culture Park where decommissioned oil tanks became galleries, performance spaces, and lawns—an exemplary adaptive reuse with environmental storytelling.

Evening: Classic Korean barbecue at Mapo Jeong Daepo: marbled pork belly or beef short rib grilled at your table, with ssam wraps, kimchi, and perilla (25,000–45,000 KRW per person). Cap the night with a gentle stroll along the Han River at Yeouido or Ttukseom.

Day 4: Palaces, Seoullo 7017, and Market-to-Table

Morning: Tour Gyeongbokgung Palace and the National Folk Museum for context on Joseon-era daily life and resource use. Brunch nearby at Tosokchon Samgyetang—ginseng chicken soup that locals swear by (about 17,000–20,000 KRW).

Afternoon: Walk Seoullo 7017, an elevated highway reborn as a plant-lined sky garden. Swing by Namdaemun Market to see repair stalls for bags, shoes, and cameras—micro-economies of reuse in action.

Evening: Head to trend-forward Hannam for dinner at a contemporary Korean bistro (seasonal set menus are common), or return to Jongno for hearty jjimdak (braised chicken) and makgeolli. Pack for tomorrow’s flight.

Taipei

Taipei’s neighborhood-driven waste system is famously musical—garbage trucks playing Beethoven summon residents to bring out sorted trash. Expect superb public transit, parks threaded by bike paths, and an unmatched night market scene.

• Top sights and learning: Tzu Chi Environmental Education/Recycling centers, Huashan 1914 Creative Park, Dihua Street bulk-goods heritage, riverside cycling, and wetlands at Guandu Nature Park.
• Where to stay: Zhongshan for cafes and easy transit, Da’an for leafy streets and eateries, or Ximending for lively nights. Compare options on VRBO Taipei or Hotels.com Taipei.
• Getting there from Seoul: Morning flights take ~2 hr 30 min; typical fares run ~120–250 USD. Search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From TPE, the Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station takes ~35–40 minutes (about NT$150).

Day 5: Fly to Taipei, Huashan Creative Park, and Raohe Night Market

Morning: Fly Seoul to Taipei. Aim for an early flight to land by late morning. Pick up an EasyCard at the Airport MRT and ride into the city.

Afternoon: Quick, delicious lunch at Jin Feng Lu Rou Fan—Taipei’s beloved braised pork rice with pickles and half-boiled egg (NT$40–80 per bowl). Explore Huashan 1914 Creative Park, a repurposed wine factory now hosting design shops, exhibits, and weekend markets—great for seeing design-led reuse.

Evening: Head to Raohe Night Market. Start at the Fuzhou Shizu Pepper Bun stand at the east gate, then graze through grilled squid, herbal pork rib soup, and black pepper beef cubes. For dessert, try almond tofu or a Taiwanese wheel cake (NT$50–100 per item). On your walk back, note neighborhood trash pick-up times posted on building boards.

Day 6: Recycling Education, Dihua Street, and Ningxia Night Market

Morning: Traditional breakfast at Fuhang Soy Milk (go early): fresh youtiao, hot soy milk, and shaobing (NT$60–120). Then visit a Tzu Chi Environmental Education or Recycling Station (several locations across Taipei/New Taipei) for a guided look at citizen-run sorting, PET-to-textile demonstrations, and volunteer training. Contact the center in advance to arrange an English-friendly visit.

Afternoon: Walk Dihua Street in historic Dadaocheng—bulk teas, herbs, grains, and dried fruits line old shophouses. Observe refill culture and low-waste packaging in traditional trade. Coffee break at Fika Fika Cafe in Zhongshan, known for award-winning Nordic-style roasts.

Evening: Taste your way through Ningxia Night Market, compact and culinary: oyster omelet, taro balls, braised pork belly buns, and savory rice pudding. If you prefer a sit-down spot, try Lan Jia Gua Bao near Gongguan for the city’s favorite pork belly buns (fat-lean mix is the classic).

Day 7: Rivers, Wetlands, and Departure

Morning: Rent a YouBike and pedal the riverside paths toward Guandu Nature Park, a vital urban wetland with hides for birdwatching and exhibits on water ecology. It’s a peaceful counterpoint to the markets and a reminder that waste and water policy are inseparable.

Afternoon: Quick lunch near Taipei Main Station—beef noodle soup or scallion pancake—and pick up pineapple cakes for colleagues. Ride the Airport MRT back to TPE for your afternoon departure.

Logistics, Costs, and How to Adapt Ideas Back Home

• City transit: Seoul metro rides average 1,250–1,450 KRW; Taipei MRT typically NT$20–65 per ride. Load up a T-money/EasyCard on day one.
• Intercity flight: Seoul–Taipei ~2.5 hours, ~120–250 USD round-trip if booked early. Search on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.
• What to book ahead: Any resource recovery facility tours (government or NGO), palace changing-of-the-guard timings (if you want photos), and popular eateries at peak times.
• Policy takeaways to observe: pay-as-you-throw pricing, citizen sorting education, community-run recycling centers (Taipei), adaptive reuse of industrial sites (both cities), and market-based repair economies.
• Where to sleep: Compare neighborhoods and dates on Hotels.com Seoul, VRBO Seoul, Hotels.com Taipei, and VRBO Taipei.

In one efficient week, you’ll see how two cities reduced litter through pricing, education, and design—without sacrificing joy at the table. Return home with concrete, people-first ideas for bulk pickup, sorting, and reuse programs, plus a renewed sense that good policy can be deliciously lived.